Patent application title: System and Method for Geothermal Heat Exchange

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Abstract:

Apparatus and method transfer heat between a geothermal mass and a
geothermal heat exchange unit embedded within the geothermal mass,
utilizing a geothermal heat exchange system comprised of the heat
exchange unit. The unit includes a chamber enclosed by plate-like walls
presenting a very large heat transfer area. The walls are spaced apart by
a small distance compared to the heat transfer area, configuring the
chamber to contain a thin, film-like volume of a liquid heat exchange
medium. The heat exchange medium is flowed into and out of the chamber at
a prescribed rate of flow, and the capacity of the chamber is such that
the volume of heat exchange medium contained within the chamber during
operation of the geothermal heat exchange system is great enough to
enable the flowing heat exchange medium to mix with static, dwelled heat
exchange medium maintained within the chamber as heat exchange medium
flows through the chamber at the prescribed rate of flow and is
circulated in the system.

Claims:

1. A geothermal heat exchange unit for being embedded within a geothermal
mass to effect a transfer of heat between the geothermal mass and a
geothermal heat exchange system comprised of the heat exchange unit, the
heat exchange unit comprising: a chamber enclosed by at least two
plate-like walls constructed of a material possessing high heat
conducting characteristics, each wall having a longitudinal length and a
lateral width establishing a predetermined heat transfer area; the walls
being spaced apart by a small transverse distance relative to the length
and width of the walls, such that the chamber is configured to contain a
thin, film-like volume of a liquid heat exchange medium; an inlet for
admitting liquid heat exchange medium into the chamber at a prescribed
rate of flow; and an outlet for conducting liquid heat exchange medium
out of the chamber at the prescribed rate of flow; the chamber being
configured such that the volume of liquid heat exchange medium contained
within the chamber during operation of the geothermal heat exchange
system is great enough to enable the liquid heat exchange medium flowing
through the inlet at the prescribed rate of flow to mix with static,
dwelled liquid heat exchange medium within the chamber as liquid heat
exchange medium flows through the outlet at the prescribed rate of flow
to be circulated in the geothermal heat exchange system.

2. The geothermal heat exchange unit of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal
length and the lateral width each are about three to four feet, and the
spacing between the walls is less than about one inch.

3. The geothermal heat exchange unit of claim 1 including a reinforcing
structure affixed between the walls for militating against distortion of
the walls.

4. The geothermal heat exchange unit of claim 1 wherein the chamber
includes an upper top and a lower bottom, the walls are oriented
substantially vertically between the upper top and the lower bottom, and
the inlet and outlet are located adjacent the upper top to facilitate the
mixing of the liquid heat exchange medium flowing through the inlet with
the static, dwelled volume of liquid heat exchange medium within the
chamber.

5. The geothermal heat exchange unit of claim 4 including a reinforcing
structure affixed between the walls for militating against distortion of
the walls.

8. A geothermal heat exchange system comprising a plurality of geothermal
heat exchange units of claim 1 for being embedded within the geothermal
mass, connected in series, and a pump for circulating the liquid heat
exchange medium serially through the plurality of geothermal heat
exchange units.

9. The geothermal heat exchange system of claim 8 including an energy
charging system for providing heat to the liquid heat exchange medium for
recharging the geothermal mass.

10. A geothermal heat exchange system comprising a plurality of
geothermal heat exchange units of claim 4 for being embedded within the
geothermal mass, connected in series, and a pump for circulating the
liquid heat exchange medium serially through the plurality of geothermal
heat exchange units.

11. The geothermal heat exchange system of claim 11 including an energy
charging system for providing heat to the liquid heat exchange medium for
recharging the geothermal mass.

12. A method for transferring heat between a geothermal mass and a
geothermal heat exchange unit embedded within the geothermal mass,
utilizing a geothermal heat exchange system comprised of the heat
exchange unit, the method comprising: providing a chamber enclosed by at
least two plate-like walls constructed of a material possessing high heat
conducting characteristics, with each wall having a longitudinal length
and a lateral width establishing a predetermined heat transfer area;
spacing the walls apart by a small transverse distance relative to the
length and width of the walls, such that the chamber is configured to
contain a thin, film-like volume of a liquid heat exchange medium;
providing an inlet for admitting liquid heat exchange medium into the
chamber at a prescribed rate of flow; providing an outlet for conducting
liquid heat exchange medium out of the chamber at the prescribed rate of
flow; and configuring the chamber such that the volume of liquid heat
exchange medium contained within the chamber during operation of the
geothermal heat exchange system is great enough to enable the liquid heat
exchange medium flowing through the inlet at the prescribed rate of flow
to mix with static, dwelled liquid heat exchange medium within the
chamber as liquid heat exchange medium flows through the outlet at the
prescribed rate of flow to be circulated in the geothermal heat exchange
system.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the longitudinal length and the
lateral width of each wall are provided at about three to four feet, and
the spacing between the walls is provided at less than about one inch.

14. The method of claim 12 including providing the chamber with an upper
top and a lower bottom, orienting the walls substantially vertically
between the upper top and the lower bottom, and locating the inlet and
outlet adjacent the upper top to facilitate the mixing of the liquid heat
exchange medium flowing through the inlet with the static, dwelled volume
of liquid heat exchange medium within the chamber.

15. The method of claim 12 including providing a plurality of said
geothermal heat exchange units for being embedded within the geothermal
mass, connected in series, and a pump for circulating the liquid heat
exchange medium serially through the plurality of geothermal heat
exchange units.

16. The method of claim 15 including incorporating an energy charging
system to provide heat to the liquid heat exchange medium for recharging
the geothermal mass.

Description:

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a system and method for
underground geothermal heat exchange and recharging and pertains, more
specifically, to the configuration and use of geothermal heat exchange
units having a plate-like construction providing a very large heat
exchange surface area combined with a very limited thickness to contain a
film-like heat exchange fluid allowing rapid, almost immediate geothermal
heat equilibrium with a surrounding geothermal mass without the need for
an underground installation of relatively cumbersome devices to conduct
geothermal heat exchange and heat storage, and concomitant deep drilling
or the use of extensive land areas to attain effective geothermal heat
exchange.

[0003] Geothermal heat pump systems currently are among the most efficient
means for meeting heating and cooling needs. However, typical geothermal
heat exchange installations require at least a few hundred feet of
vertical drilling into a geothermal mass or, alternately, horizontal
extension over large land areas. There are ongoing efforts to reduce the
high costs related to extensive drilling depth or installations spread
over large land areas. Among these efforts, the advent of coiled systems
has offered a significant reduction in land area use, with little or no
drilling requirements. A typical coiled system merely requires the
installation of at least one helical geothermal piping unit, usually
having a diameter of three to four feet. Such helically configured
geothermal piping is believed to increase heat exchange by virtue of the
increased heat exchange surface made available in each unit. However,
these coiled systems still require relatively large land areas, as well
as rather complex installation procedures, as compared to straight piping
installations. These conventional geothermal heat exchange systems and
methods extract available heat from a geothermal mass surrounding the
geothermal heat exchange piping. Accordingly, heat exchange is limited by
the limited surface area of the heat exchange medium immediately
contiguous with the periphery of the heat exchange piping.

[0004] It has been suggested that large volume heat exchange units,
constructed in a variety of generally cylindrical configurations, can be
installed within the ground to bring these units into contiguity with a
geothermal mass without the need for deep drilling or a requirement for
extensive land area. Such installations rely upon large heat exchange
surface areas provided by the relatively bulky heat exchange units. While
these installations do provide some advantages, there are drawbacks
resulting from the complexity of the units themselves, difficulties in
managing the volume of heat exchange medium present in the system, and
details of construction necessary to maintain structural integrity and
robust performance over a reasonable service life.

[0005] In another aspect of the operation of a geothermal heat exchange
system, prolonged use in either a heating mode or a cooling mode can
cause a substantial decrease in the efficiency of the system. In most
geographic regions, ambient air temperature fluctuates between daytime
and nighttime. In some areas, that fluctuation can be considerable. Thus,
even in winter, daytime temperature could be higher than the generally
constant geothermal temperature, while in summer, nighttime temperature
might be lower than the geothermal temperature, all resulting in
decreases in the efficiency of a geothermal heat exchange system that
must contend with such fluctuations in temperature. Therefore, it would
be advantageous to provide for the storage of extra daytime heat in
winter, and for the discharge of cooler air to the geothermal mass in
summer, in order to increase the efficiency of a geothermal heat exchange
system, thereby enabling a reduction in the requirement for geothermal
mass and, consequently, for land area.

[0006] Advances in "clean energy" technology, such as passive or active
solar heating systems, have enabled a cost-efficient production of heat;
however, such heat usually is available only intermittently and must be
stored for use in response to periodic demand. The present invention
provides apparatus and method for effectively storing such energy in a
geothermal mass, thereby reducing the land area required for the
installation of geothermal heat exchange units while, at the same time,
effecting recharging of the geothermal mass itself.

[0007] Taking into account that the amount of immediate heat exchange is
proportional to the total surface area available for the exchange of heat
between a donor and a recipient, an increase in such total available area
can be attained by increasing the diameter of the pipe used to conduct a
heat exchange medium through a geothermal mass. However, increased pipe
diameter results in an increase in the volume of heat exchange medium
circulated within the piping system, leading to the requirement for
higher capacity circulating pumps operating with increased power
consumption, and a significant increase in the cost of installation and
operation, rendering the use of such a system impractical.

[0008] The present invention relies upon the principle that the heat
exchanged at a particular pipe surrounded by a geothermal mass is a
function of the perimeter and length of the heat exchange surface area
provided by the pipe surface, together with the volume of heat exchange
medium passing through the pipe, and the effectiveness of the heat
exchange medium passing through the pipe is a function of the heat
exchange surface area and the length of the pipe. Accordingly, the heat
exchanged during the passage of a volume of heat exchange medium through
any given length of pipe can be increased by increasing the heat exchange
surface area made available to the heat exchange medium. The present
invention takes advantage of an increased heat exchange surface area made
available to the volume of heat exchange medium passing through the pipe
without the disadvantage of presenting an increased volume of heat
exchange medium within a given length of the pipe, as described above.
Thus, heat exchange surface area is expanded, without a concomitant
expansion of the volume of heat exchange medium, by flattening the heat
exchange pipe to increase the heat exchange surface area provided by
flattened opposite walls of the pipe while reducing the transverse
spacing between those walls to preserve the total perimeter of the pipe
and avoid an increase in the volume of heat exchange medium passing
through a given length of the pipe. In this manner, the amount of heat
exchanged is increased without necessitating an increase in the volume of
heat exchange medium being circulated in the system. However, since the
heat exchange medium is circulated under pressure, resulting in a
tendency for the flattened walls to deviate from the essentially planar
configuration of each flattened wall, it becomes advantageous to provide
a reinforced structure while maintaining an effective heat transfer
construction.

[0009] Accordingly, the present invention attains several objects and
advantages, some of which are summarized as follows: Provides a
geothermal heat exchange system in which heat exchange units have
essentially flat, plate-like walls extending longitudinally and laterally
and spaced apart transversely in close proximity to one-another to
provide very large area heat exchange surfaces between which a heat
exchange medium is contained in the form of a very thin, film-like volume
of liquid for rapid heat exchange between a film-like volume of heat
exchange medium and a surrounding geothermal mass; establishes a
geothermal heat exchange system of the type described and in which the
volumetric flow of the heat exchange medium into and out of each heat
exchange unit during operation of the system, relative to the volume of
heat exchange medium within each heat exchange unit, coupled with the
configuration of each heat exchange unit, establishes a static, dwelled
volume of heat exchange medium within each heat exchange unit to effect
heat exchange by mixing and convection between the flow of heat exchange
medium into the heat exchange unit and the static, dwelled volume of heat
exchange medium within the heat exchange unit; facilitates a simplified,
economical installation of a geothermal heat exchange system in a
geothermal mass, requiring minimal excavation of the geothermal mass
while conserving land area use; enables a rapid response to demands for
heat or cooling; provides increased efficiency in a geothermal heat
exchange system; enables effective use in conjunction with external
intermittent sources of heat energy to allow heat storage within a
geothermal mass; serves to recharge a geothermal mass as necessary;
provides a geothermal heat exchange system having geothermal heat
exchange units capable of effective robust performance over an extended
service life.

[0010] The above objects and advantages are attained by the present
invention which may be described briefly as a geothermal heat exchange
unit for being embedded within a geothermal mass to effect a transfer of
heat between the geothermal mass and a geothermal heat exchange system
comprised of the heat exchange unit, the heat exchange unit comprising: a
chamber enclosed by at least two plate-like walls constructed of a
material possessing high heat conducting characteristics, each wall
having a longitudinal length and a lateral width establishing a
predetermined heat transfer area; the walls being spaced apart by a small
transverse distance relative to the length and width of the walls, such
that the chamber is configured to contain a thin, film-like volume of a
liquid heat exchange medium; an inlet for admitting liquid heat exchange
medium into the chamber at a prescribed rate of flow; and an outlet for
conducting liquid heat exchange medium out of the chamber at the
prescribed rate of flow; the chamber being configured such that the
volume of liquid heat exchange medium contained within the chamber during
operation of the geothermal heat exchange system is great enough to
enable the liquid heat exchange medium flowing through the inlet at the
prescribed rate of flow to mix with static, dwelled liquid heat exchange
medium within the chamber as liquid heat exchange medium flows through
the outlet at the prescribed rate of flow to be circulated in the
geothermal heat exchange system.

[0011] In addition, the present invention provides a method for
transferring heat between a geothermal mass and a geothermal heat
exchange unit embedded within the geothermal mass, utilizing a geothermal
heat exchange system comprised of the heat exchange unit, the method
comprising: providing a chamber enclosed by at least two plate-like walls
constructed of a material possessing high heat conducting
characteristics, with each wall having a longitudinal length and a
lateral width establishing a predetermined heat transfer area; spacing
the walls apart by a small transverse distance relative to the length and
width of the walls, such that the chamber is configured to contain a
thin, film-like volume of a liquid heat exchange medium; providing an
inlet for admitting liquid heat exchange medium into the chamber at a
prescribed rate of flow; providing an outlet for conducting liquid heat
exchange medium out of the chamber at the prescribed rate of flow; and
configuring the chamber such that the volume of liquid heat exchange
medium contained within the chamber during operation of the geothermal
heat exchange system is great enough to enable the liquid heat exchange
medium flowing through the inlet at the prescribed rate of flow to mix
with static, dwelled liquid heat exchange medium within the chamber as
liquid heat exchange medium flows through the outlet at the prescribed
rate of flow to be circulated in the geothermal heat exchange system.

[0012] The above objects and advantages, as well as further objects and
advantages. will become apparent in the following detailed description of
preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying
drawing, in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a geothermal heat exchange unit
constructed in accordance with the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a pictorial view similar to FIG. 1 and showing an
alternate construction;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a pictorial view similar to FIG. 1 and showing another
alternate construction; and

[0016] FIG. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic, pictorial view of a geothermal
heat exchange system constructed in accordance with the present invention
and installed within a geothermal mass.

[0017] Referring now to the drawing, and especially to FIG. 1 thereof, a
geothermal heat exchange unit constructed in accordance with the present
invention is shown at 10 and is seen to include a plate-like container 12
having transversely opposite side walls 14 and 16 spaced apart by end
walls 18, a bottom wall 20 and a top wall 22. Unit 10 has a longitudinal
length L, a lateral width W and a transverse thickness T. Both the length
L and the width W are very large in comparison to the thickness T,
typical relative dimensions for each of length L and width W being about
three to four feet, while thickness T preferably is no more than about
one inch. Thus, container 12 provides a chamber 24 for holding a thin,
film-like volume of a liquid heat exchange medium, shown in the form of
water 30, the chamber 24 having a transverse thickness t for establishing
a thin, film-like volume of water 30. In the preferred construction,
thickness t is less than one inch. At the same time, side walls 14 and 16
provide respective heat exchange surfaces 32 and 34, with each heat
exchange surface 32 and 34 having a very large area relative to the
thickness t of chamber 24. An inlet tube 36 extends through side wall 14
to communicate with chamber 24 adjacent top wall 22, and an outlet tube
38 extends through side wall 16 to communicate with chamber 24, also
adjacent top wall 22, each side wall 14 and 16 being constructed of a
material having high thermal conductivity, for purposes set forth below.

[0018] In the preferred construction, walls 14 and 16 are relatively thin,
in order to promote the transfer of heat between the water 30 in the
chamber 24 and a surrounding, contiguous geothermal mass. Thus, with
reference to FIG. 2, a structural feature may be incorporated between the
walls 14 and 16, shown in the form of multiple disks 40 affixed to the
walls 14 and 16 and spanning the transverse distance between the walls 32
and 34 to reinforce the walls against buckling or other distortion of the
essentially planar configuration of each wall 14 and 16, especially
during operation. The circular configuration of each disk 40 militates
against disruption of the flow of water 30 within chamber 24. In an
alternate construction, illustrated in FIG. 3, a plurality of beams 42
extend between the walls 14 and 16 and are affixed to the walls, spanning
the transverse distance between the walls 14 and 16 to reinforce the
walls against buckling or other distortion, especially during operation.
The orientation of each beam 42 militates against disruption of the flow
of water 30 within chamber 24.

[0019] Turning now to FIG. 4, a geothermal heat exchange system is
illustrated, largely diagrammatically, at 50 and is seen to include six
geothermal heat exchange units 10 installed within a geothermal mass,
shown as earth 52, with the units 10 placed below frost line 54.
Installation of the units 10 is rendered simple and economical by virtue
of the thin configuration of each unit 10, each unit 10 merely requiring
the excavation of a complementary narrow slot 56 in earth 52, into which
slot 56 a unit 10 is inserted. The thin configuration of each unit 10
enables ready location and spacing of the units 10 from one-another,
preferably by about three to four feet, to accommodate sufficient
portions of earth 52 between units 10 without consuming an inordinate,
extensive area of land. The individual units 10 are interconnected in a
series 60 by fluid conduits 62 leading from the outlet tube 38 of one
unit 10 to the inlet tube 36 of the next-consecutive unit 10. During
operation of the system 50, a pump 64 circulates water 30 through the
system 50, entering at an input conduit 66 connected to the inlet tube 36
of the first unit 10F of the series 60 and exiting at an output conduit
68 connected to the outlet tube 38 of the last unit 10L of the series 60.

[0020] Each unit 10 contains a prescribed volume of water 30 within
chamber 24, which volume is spread over the thin, film-like configuration
of that volume. The thin, film-like configuration of the volume is
exposed to the relatively large heat transfer area provided by the
respective heat exchange surfaces 32 and 34 of the walls 14 and 16,
thereby promoting a rapid, almost instantaneous transfer of heat between
the volume of water 30 in chamber 24 and the surrounding, contiguous
earth 52. During operation of the system 50, water 30 is circulated by
pump 64 at a rate of flow that enables the establishment of a static,
dwelled volume of water 30 within each heat exchange unit 10 to effect
heat exchange by mixing of the incoming water 30 and convection between
the water 30 flowing into the heat exchange unit and the static, dwelled
volume of water 30 within the unit 10, such mixing and convection being
fostered by the location of the inlet and outlet tubes 36 and 38 adjacent
the top wall 22 of each unit 10. Further, exposure of the static, dwelled
volume of water 30 within each unit 10 to the relatively large heat
transfer area provided by the respective heat transfer surfaces 32 and 34
of the walls 32 and 34, both during operation of the system 50 and during
periods of rest, coupled with the thin, film-like configuration of the
volume of water 30 accommodated within chamber 24, promotes a rapid,
almost instantaneous transfer of heat between the static, dwelled volume
of water 30 and the surrounding, contiguous earth 52.

[0021] As an added measure, an energy charging system may be incorporated
into system 50, as illustrated at 70 in FIG. 4. Charging system 70
preferably is of a "clean energy" type, such as a passive or active solar
heating system. During periods of operation of charging system 70, energy
generated by charging system 70 will be stored in system 50 by operating
system 50 in a charging mode to either store energy or recharge the earth
52 associated with system 50.

[0022] It will be seen that the present invention attains all of the
objects and advantages summarized above, namely: Provides a geothermal
heat exchange system in which heat exchange units have essentially flat,
plate-like walls extending longitudinally and laterally and spaced apart
transversely in close proximity to one-another to provide very large area
heat exchange surfaces between which a heat exchange medium is contained
in the form of a very thin, film-like volume of liquid for rapid heat
exchange between a film-like volume of heat exchange medium and a
surrounding geothermal mass; establishes a geothermal heat exchange
system of the type described and in which the volumetric flow of the heat
exchange medium into and out of each heat exchange unit during operation
of the system, relative to the volume of heat exchange medium within each
heat exchange unit, coupled with the configuration of each heat exchange
unit, establishes a static, dwelled volume of heat exchange medium within
each heat exchange unit to effect heat exchange by mixing and convection
between the flow of heat exchange medium into the heat exchange unit and
the static, dwelled volume of heat exchange medium within the heat
exchange unit; facilitates a simplified, economical installation of a
geothermal heat exchange system in a geothermal mass, requiring minimal
excavation of the geothermal mass while conserving land area use; enables
a rapid response to demands for heat or cooling; provides increased
efficiency in a geothermal heat exchange system; enables effective use in
conjunction with external intermittent sources of heat energy to allow
heat storage within a geothermal mass; serves to recharge a geothermal
mass as necessary; provides a geothermal heat exchange system having
geothermal heat exchange units capable of effective robust performance
over an extended service life.

[0023] It is to be understood that the above detailed description of
preferred embodiments of the invention is provided by way of example
only. Various details of design, construction and procedure may be
modified without departing from the true spirit and scope of the
invention, as set forth in the appended claims.